Looking back on 2016

We are well into 2017 but I see that I did not post any in 2016 so here is a look back…

Most of my time is spent with family these days and that includes outings with our son. He has caught the aviation bug from me for sure!

We have enjoyed a few visits to the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

Our three most frequently visited North Texas airports are Propwash in Justin, Northwest Regional in Roanoke and Hicks in Ft. Worth.

J-3 restoration at Northwest Regional

Luscombe at Northwest Regional

T-6 Project at Propwash

My son and I have also jumped into my old model building hobby. We pull out a plastic model kit from my stash and build about one airplane a month.

Skyraider plastic model build

When we can we visit local North Texas aviation events. An open house at Propwash, a museum visit at Meacham, Addison and Lancaster.

Our son, Brennen, airplane spotting at Propwash

Daddy and Brennen in the shade of the Navion

Checking out the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham

Mustang at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Woody and Mustang at Lancaster

In the Fall of 2016 us boys gave Mommy a break and did an overnight trip to the Antique Airplane fly-in held in Gainesville. Plenty of cool airplanes to spot and we even watched a fun T-6 airshow at sunset.

BIG T-6 at Gainesville Antique Fly-In

 The coolest part of the weekend was our sons first little airplane ride. Our friend Billy took us up in his Legend Cub.

First Cub ride!

As I sort back through my photos I will hit so more highlights from 2016. Stop back by soon!

Old Rhinebeck Spirit of St. Louis Flies

Great news for the long running Spirit of St. Louis project with Old Rhinebeck. Their very accurate replica flew on December 5, 2015! In one Facebook post it showed photos of the Curtiss Robin they used as the training aircraft for the Spirit of St. Louis first flight. The Robin had a large piece of cardboard placed between the front and rear seats to simulate the lack of visibility in the Spirit! Hats off to the Old Rhinebeck crew and supporters!

Photo via EAA/Old Rhinebeck

Click here for the news from EAA.

Links - Old Rhinebeck - EAA

Awesome Antiques - Blakesburg Iowa Antique Fly In 2015

It was a last minute trip to Iowa this past September. The effort was worth it as the weather was sunny and the aircraft turned up in good numbers. Here are some highlights from the Antique Airplane Association Fly-In 2015 in Blakesburg, Iowa. This grass strip event provides the perfect setting for vintage airplanes and photography. It is another on my list of "must see" aviation events in the United States.

The St. Louis Robin - the record breaking Curtiss Robin

Two Curtiss Robins in flight

180hp Chipmunk

450hp Mullicoupe with Mr. Mulligan in the background

Waco Model D

Ryan SCW

Fairchild 71

Beautiful line up of Cessna 140s

Custom Travel Air

Spartan 7W Executive

Stearman Model 4

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome - An Aviation Must See

There are aviation museums and events around the United States that are on my "must see" list. So in conversations with friends and family these must see's come up often. To name a few.... the "big one" at Oshkosh, The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (downtown and at Dulles), National Museum of the U.S. Air Force... along with one of the places that I HIGHLY recommend be visited if you are a die hard aviation enthusiast or just a casual observer is Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. This grass airfield in rural New York will take you back to another time. Early aviation lives and flies there! I visited there in June of 2005 with my parents and my sisters family. Quite the scene to pull up on the vintage hangars and buildings full of aircraft from the 1910s thru the 1930s. A stroll around the grounds and watching the afternoon airshow will be a site you will never forget. So if in New York... GO!

Dan enjoying the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

I saw a bit of news a couple days ago. Old Rhinebeck is fundraising to rebuild their gift shop and model museum building after a fire last month. Read the article here on AvWeb.

Let's support the rebuild. Visit the donate page on the Old Rhinebeck site here.

Go and see the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome!!

Links - Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

Rimowa Fokker F-13 Replica

One of the cool announcements to come out of Oshkosh 2015 was that Rimowa, the luggage maker, would be offering Fokker F-13 replicas for sale. The Rimowa company has a dedicated web site for the project... click here for the full details.

Photo via Fast Company magazine

For the press from EAA at Oshkosh.... click here.

The EAA press states that it will cost about $2.2 Million... cruise at 86 knots... and be powered by a Pratt and Whitney 985.

For some press from FAST COMPANY magazine... click here.

I guess you will spend quite a bit of money to fly slowly... BUT you will be THE COOLEST airplane on the ramp at every airport you land at!

Cowtown T-6 Texan

In June, just as we pulled into the Propwash airport, a radial engine broke the silence and pealed off to land. My boy and I were on an outing to drop in on the Cowtown Aerocrafters hangar in Justin, Texas. We watched as Lanny Parcell and his son landed in the newly restored AT-6 Texan. The gang at Cowtown had this T-6 in storage for a long time and spent the last few years bringing it up to flying status. A fine T-6 now graces the skies over Texas. The glint off the polished skin will have you reaching for your sunglasses! On our visit preparations were being made for the big trip to Oshkosh. (Lanny and Tom Swindle made the trip up and back successfully.) Below are a series of photos from the visit in June.

Cowtown T-6 Gleaming in the Texas sun

Search for "Cowtown Aerocrafters" on Facebook to follow along on their restorations.

Central Texas Wing CAF - South Texas Trip

I am In review mode for this summers activities so posting more photos from a few months back. In June our family headed south for a good friends wedding near Austin. Brennen and I dropped Candice off for some outlet mall shopping (air conditioned!) while we headed out into the warm sunshine to check out a local airport. We drove around the San Marcos, Texas airport until we found the Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force hangar. They have one COOL hangar! Big open hangar space and plenty of wooden beams with character. Equally eye catching is the variety of vintage aircraft on display. B-25, P-39, AT-6, Beech 18 and more! It was fun to run into a pilot from back in the Breckenridge Airshow days and catch up. If in the Austin/San Marcos area this is a great stop for the aviation enthusiast. Below is a series of photos highlighting the visit.

"Dad... that is NOT a REAL Zero!"

B-25 Mitchell "Yellow Rose"

P-39 Airacobra

Check out the cool hangar structure!

P-39 up close

Hangar overview

Plenty of aircraft on display!

Links - Central Texas Wing CAF - Commemorative Air Force

Are you a Warbird Airshow enthusiast? Check out the book Breckenridge Warbirds! 

Follow this link to preview and purchase.

Corsairs at Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Back in May I took my boy over to see the Warbirds at the Cavanaught Flight Museum. The day worked out perfectly with great weather and plenty of flying Warbirds. It was great to see the two Corsairs flying together! Highly recommend visiting this museum especially on their "fly days" they have twice a year.

Navy folding wings

Cavanaugh Corsair

Visiting Corsair from Oklahoma

Cavanaugh Skyraider

Cavanaugh Mustang

Brennen swinging his hand around to the engine sound

Corsair departing for flybys

Brennen inspecting the Corsairs

Mustang engine start

Cavanaugh Warhawk

Link - Cavanaugh Flight Museum

B-17 And B-17 Dallas Visit - Frontiers of Flight Museum

It was back in March that I was able to visit Love Field in Dallas to see the Collings Foundation bomber tour at the Frontiers of Flight museum stop. My son and my mom spent the afternoon walking around the bombers and the museum with me. I called it a "bomber history lesson" for my boy! The weather was cool and overcast so MUCH different than the 100 degree heat we have in Texas today!

Brennen getting the boost to see the B-24

B-24 gear leg perspective

B-17 walk around

Airplanes everywhere!

Looking over the Vought "Flying Pancake" once flown by Lindbergh

Links - Frontiers of Flight Museum - Collings Foundation